Much like Lay's Potato Chips, I couldn't stop at one HST quilt! Story of my quilting like it seems!
After the last quilt in the previous post, I still had a dozen or so HSTs that I had to use. With very few to work with I quickly found another batch of HSTs but they had a light gray as the background. No big deal! I knew I would eventually find a solution and a way to use as many as I could.
NUTS & BOLTS
30 1/2" x 42"
And so it is...a pretty good work around to HSTs with different background colors. I had many 'sit and stare' moments where I wondered what to do with what I had. Slowly ideas formed and with each step completed I had to come up with yet another solution!
The first step was arranging the blocks, which was easy enough as long as I was strategic with the colors. I wanted to do something different other than leave the HSTs intact, so for step two I decided to add some curve action. As you can see I'm alternating the dark and light gray backgrounds.
After painstakingly matching the center and curves the blocks were finished. Another 'sit and stare' session later, the corner squares and borders happened. There's a deep satisfaction when a 'fly by the seat of your pants' quilt comes together and looks like it was effortless and what was planned that way from the beginning!
The quilting is my usually geometric 1/2" lines for the most part. With it being a small quilt I was able to add a few fun details such as the circles. Nothing fancy with the thread. I used Aurifil #2600 Dove Gray.
For the backing I used two shades of gray vertically placed and intentionally cut the three pieces different widths.
I finished it off by hand stitching a coral binding around the edge and promptly tossed it in the wash!
Because we all know quilts are never really finished until they are washed and full of crinkle goodness! And tossed in a pile for a photo...at least for me!
I successfully worked through a stack of HSTs by making two quilts. I could have easily passed over the stack and worked on something else, but when the mood hits you sometimes have to strike!
Although your blocks weren't lemons, you sure made some tasty lemonade!
ReplyDeleteI don't think this looks effortless at all! very complex and the finished design is so good!
ReplyDeleteI was super excited with each of the 'on the spot' decisions I made and couldn’t wait to finish it! Couldn’t be happier with the results!
DeleteWhat a lovely, balanced design! And the quilting makes it even better. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteWell, isn't that neat? I love your description of "sit and stare" sessions! Don't we all do that? Yours had great results!
ReplyDeleteI think it’s a standard quilting practice to sit and stare! Each time I do that I wait for that lightbulb moment and thankfully most of the time it happens!
DeleteSuper cute little quilt, Jayne, and a great use of those leftover HSTs!!
ReplyDeleteSo clever, great finish.
ReplyDeleteSit and stare works for me, just sometimes it takes a lot of patience for inspiration to hit.
I love working with HSTs and love coming up with different and unique ways to use them! The sit and stare sessions can be short or excruciating long, but eventually something happens!
DeleteI love the combination of the circles in the middle of the HSTs and then the hourglass like blocks to offset them. Nicely puzzled together!
ReplyDeleteA feast for the eyes, and such fun!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun quilt! I like how you echoed the pieced circles with some circles in the quilting, too. And Dove Gray Aurifil is just the rock star of quilting because it looks great with so many colors!
ReplyDeleteJayne, may I respectfully disagree? I can resist potato chips but your gorgeous quilts are totally irresistible.
ReplyDeleteI like this blog. Thank you for sharing this information.
ReplyDelete